Joint Session: Diverse Voices in NYS Cannabis

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Jessica Gonzalez, President of the Latino Cannabis Alliance, and Jason Ortiz, the organization’s Vice President, for a thought-provoking discussion on advocacy, social equity, and the future of Latino leadership in the cannabis industry. Drawing on their extensive experience in policy, law, criminal justice reform, and community orga...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Daniel Sabet of GreenGrowth CPAs and Alex Norman, co-owner of New York dispensary Budega, for a practical deep dive into one of the biggest financial challenges facing cannabis operators: Section 280E. Daniel breaks down how the tax code works in practice, why cannabis businesses can be taxed on gross profit rather than true net inco...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Parisa Mansouri-Rad—widely known as the Marijuana Mama—for a deeply personal conversation about cannabis, caregiving, advocacy, and leadership. Parisa shares how her journey into cannabis began as a mother searching for relief for her daughter, whose severe medical complications following spinal surgery led the family to medical cann...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Sidney Barrett, founder of Dream Days Dispensary and one of the youngest licensed cannabis dispensary owners in New York State. Sidney shares her remarkable journey from studying cannabis and horticultural business management at SUNY Morrisville to opening her own dispensary at just 23 years old. Drawing on her personal experience, i...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Lyla Hunt, Director of Public Health and Education at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, to discuss the findings from OCM’s groundbreaking Listen and Learn initiative. Drawing on conversations with more than 450 New Yorkers—including over 300 young people—Lyla shares what the agency learned about cannabis awareness, mi...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Lulu Tsui, co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of On the Revel, to explore how community, culture, and connection are shaping New York’s cannabis industry. Lulu shares her unique journey—from early exposure to cannabis culture in Oregon to working in one of the first regulated markets in Washington State, and now building one of...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot brings together a powerful panel conversation on veterans and cannabis, featuring Dr. Jaclyn Schneider, former VA physician and palliative care specialist, Ryan “420 Chief” Johnson, a retired Navy chief and founder of Break Stigmas, and Robb Harmon, founder of Veterans Cannabis Care. Together, they explore the evolving relationship between vetera...

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Chris Kuilan, co-founder of Stoops NYC, one of Manhattan’s first licensed social equity cannabis dispensaries, to share his journey from the Bronx to building a community-driven retail experience in the heart of the Flatiron District. Chris reflects on his early exposure to cannabis culture, his time in California’s legal market, and...

In this episode of Joint Session, host Herb Barbot is joined by Joshua Sanderlin, Commissioner of the Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner, to unpack how Delaware is building its adult-use cannabis market from the ground up. Commissioner Sanderlin shares insights from launching recreational sales, transitioning medical operators, and rolling out a new licensing system designed to balance...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Peter Shafran, founder and publisher of The Other Magazine , and Ranch Guerra, its CEO, to explore the intersection of cannabis, media, and culture in New York. They discuss the vision behind building a publication that brings a more sophisticated, lifestyle-driven perspective to cannabis—moving beyond trade coverage and “stoner” ste...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Axel Bernabe, former Chief of Staff and Senior Policy Director at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and one of the key architects behind New York’s cannabis regulations. Axel shares a rare insider perspective on how the state’s regulatory framework was built from scratch and how it’s now performing in the real world as...

In this episode of Joint Session , host Herb Barbot is joined by Michael Johnson, CEO of Metrc, the leading track-and-trace technology provider for the legal cannabis industry. Michael breaks down how seed-to-sale tracking works in practice, explaining how cannabis is monitored from cultivation through to retail to ensure compliance, transparency, and consumer safety. The conversation explores Met...

In this episode of Joint Session , kicking off Season 3, host Herb Barbot is joined by John Kagia, Acting Executive Director of the NYS Office of Cannabis Management. John discusses the evolution of New York’s legal cannabis market as it moves from its early “startup” phase into a period of rapid growth and maturation, with hundreds of licensed dispensaries now operating and billions in projected...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Rick Bashkoff, CEO of Lit Alerts. They discuss the evolution of the cannabis market in New York, the role of data in empowering cannabis operators, and the challenges faced by social equity applicants. He highlights the importance of understanding market dynamics, product preferences, and the impact of the illicit market on licensed operators. Th...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Joshua Wilson, the General Manager of Culture House NYC. Josh shares his extensive experience in the cannabis industry, discussing his journey from California to New York. He delves into the evolution of the cannabis market in California, the challenges faced by operators, and the lessons that New York can learn from California's experience. Josh...

In this conversation, Herb Barbot is joined by Marc Shepard to talk about the upcoming NECANN conference in Rochester, NY. They discuss the evolution of NECANN, a cannabis industry convention that has been running since 2014. Mark shares the original motivations for creating NECANN, the shift from a focus on medical marijuana to adult use, and the challenges and opportunities present in the New Yo...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Brendan McKee, co-founder and COO of Silver Therapeutics. Brendan discusses the company's journey in the cannabis industry, employee retention strategies, multi-state expansion, and the importance of company culture. Brendan shares insights on the challenges faced during their growth, the evolution of the cannabis market, and his personal aspirat...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Beck Hickey and Erin Thurmond. Beck and Erin share a candid look inside New York’s cannabis licensing battle, focusing on the frustrations and uncertainty surrounding the December Queue . They break down how shifting rules, political decisions, and market analysis have left thousands of equity-focused applicants in limbo, while early license hold...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Leah Sera, Associate Dean and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, to discuss the groundbreaking Graduate Studies in Medical Cannabis program. Leah outlines the program's structure, curriculum, and the diverse backgrounds of its students. Serra addresses the challenges of teaching evidence-based practices in a fie...

In this two-part episode of Joint Session , Herb unpacks one of the most consequential regulatory crises to hit New York’s legal cannabis industry. Part 1: Legal Insight and Legislative Fallout Herb Barbot is joined by cannabis attorneys Fatima Afia of Rudick Law and Benjamin Rattner of Cermele & Wood LLP to break down the legal and legislative chaos unleashed by New York State's recent enforc...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Chef Joshua Tepperberg, known as The Mediblist. Joshua discusses his journey into the cannabis culinary space, emphasizing the medicinal benefits of cannabis in food. He explains the concept of being a Mediblist, the importance of consistent dosing in cannabis-infused dishes, and shares his creative process for developing new recipes. Chef Joshua...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Gahrey Ovalle and Hugo Rivas from the Long Island Cannabis Coalition. They discuss the evolving landscape of cannabis legislation in New York, with a particular focus on Long Island. Concentrating on recent developments in local municipalities regarding cannabis retail, the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the industry, and the importance of...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Sheri Tarr JD, the founder and Chief Advisor at 68 Partners. Sheri is a compliance expert in the cannabis industry, who discusses the critical role of compliance in building sustainable cannabis businesses. She emphasizes the importance of understanding regulations, avoiding common compliance violations, and setting up proper procedures from the...

On this episode of Joint Session, Herb is joined by Nicolas Guarino, co-founder of Jaunty. Nicolas shares his journey from Venezuela to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the cannabis industry. He discusses the challenges of starting a business, the importance of branding and distribution, and the impact of his immigrant experience on his entrepreneurial spirit. Guarino emphasizes the significa...

On this episode, Herb is joined by Jay Randolph Wright, from Little Beach Harvest. They discuss the journey of the Shinnecock Nation into the cannabis market, emphasizing the importance of tribal sovereignty, community impact, and the unique advantages of operating outside the New York State cannabis regulations. He highlights the dispensary's tax-free sales, the challenges faced in collaborating...